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The Turkish pantry

Alanya Carob

Antalya

Long, dark brown carob pods from Alanya, with naturally sweet pulp and hard seeds inside.

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Alanya carob, also called Alanya harnup, is the fruit of the carob tree, Ceratonia siliqua. The mature pod is long, mostly straight and dark brown, with lighter brown flesh around its hard seeds. Whole pods are distinct from carob syrup, powder and locust bean gum.

Dark brown carob pods on a blue-and-white platter, with a broken pod and loose seeds.

Types & forms

Whole mature pods

The dark leathery pod contains sweet pulp and hard seeds. The whole pod is the form covered by this guide.

Processed carob products

Carob powder and syrup are processed forms. Locust bean gum is made from the seed endosperm and is a different ingredient.

What to look for when buying

  • Look for the Alanya Keçiboynuzu or Alanya Harnup name and origin information.
  • Choose intact, dry pods without damp patches, mold or insect damage. Check whether a packaged product is whole pod, powder or syrup.

Prepare & cook

  • Break the pod open and separate the hard seeds from the pulp before using the pulp.
  • Use prepared food-grade carob powder when a recipe calls for powder; whole seeded pods are not a direct substitute.
  • Use carob syrup only when the dish calls for a liquid sweetener; its concentration differs from the whole fruit.

Store it well

  • Keep dry pods in a dry place away from excess humidity and protect them from moisture in a well-closed container.
  • Follow the package’s storage directions for processed powder or syrup; they are not stored or measured as whole pods.

Substitutions depend on the dish

Other whole carob pods

Other carob pods can provide similar pulp, but do not have the Alanya origin. Match the form the recipe needs.

Cocoa powder

Cocoa and carob powder have different flavors and sweetness. Cocoa is not a direct replacement for a whole carob pod.

Nutrition

No complete Alanya-carob nutrition table is provided; whole pods, powder and syrup have different compositions.

At the Turkish table

Carob has long been grown in Alanya. The local names keçiboynuzu and harnup refer to the same regional fruit.